Choose Your Own Adventure At Bradys Lake
Just over two hours from Hobart or Launceston, discover a camping destination where you don’t all have to agree on how you while away the days. At Bradys Lake - a key player in Hydro Tasmania’s renewable energy network - one person can try their hand at reeling in a rainbow trout, another can paddle out in a kayak, and yet another can string up the hammock and simply drift off halfway through a novel. Here’s our guide to making the most of a lakeside camping trip to this Central Highlands treasure.
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Bradys Lake (image: Lara Christie)
PICK AND PITCH
With three distinct - free! - campgrounds dotted around the lake, it’s up to you whether you set your overnight abode amongst the surrounding forest, or right on the water’s edge. There’s no need to leave your furry friend at home, either - each of Bradys Lake’s camp sites welcomes four-legged companions.
Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking the campervan, there’s plenty of room to spread out, and bookings aren’t necessary. Fear not if the grounds happen to be full - nearby Tungatinah and Bronte Lagoons offer similarly picturesque waterside camping spots.
(image: Lara Christie)
CAST A LINE
As one of Tasmania’s premier rainbow and brown trout fishing destinations, even the most beginner of anglers stands a chance at telling their own “it was thiiiiiiis big” story at Bradys Lake. Drop a line from the shore or wade in to try your hand at fly fishing - the close-to-crystal-clear water offers excellent visibility, and it’s open season all year round.
DRIFT OUT
Though its home to an internationally recognised whitewater slalom course typically reserved for national-level competitions, a visit to Bradys Lake invites comparatively less adrenaline-spiking on-water pursuits, too. Launch a kayak to meander the roughly 10.5-kilometre loop of the lake, or take advantage of one of the site’s well-maintained boat ramps to explore the wider Bradys Chain, which includes nearby Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon. Just keep in mind that conditions can change quickly around here, so it’s important to check Hydro Tasmania’s safety signs before hitting the water.
(image: Lara Christie)
SETTLE IN
However you’ve spent the day at Bradys - packed with water-based activities, or on-land with a good read - every lakeside camping adventure deserves an evening wind-down. As dusk falls, light a campfire (BYO own wood), share a meal, and look out for native wildlife - you’re sharing this space with cute echidnas, wallabies, rare birdlife, and more.
Now’s the time to really sit back and appreciate this spectacular space. As part of Hydro Tasmania’s Upper Derwent hydropower network, Bradys Lake pays a key role in powering the state, while also offering one of Tassie’s most scenic spots to camp, explore and unwind.
